Play a Great-Sounding Theremin in Your Web Browser: Distraction of the Day

If you want an explanation for why you’d want to build sophisticated audio into the Web, maybe it’s just because you don’t like fun.

Fun is what you get out of this Web Audio Theremin toy, the work of one Luke Phillips of Femur Design.

The web audio theremin is a touch friendly & responsive audio synthesizer built in javascript using the Web Audio API with HTML5 canvas.
As the user interacts with the screen synthesized sounds are generated in the style of a moog theremin and the canvas displays a visual representation of the audio.

“Theremin” is a loose term here. In terms of continuous pitch control and amplitude control, each on a separate axis, it counts. Of course, it lacks the gestural input mechanism that sort of is the whole point of a Theremin. Then again, if you’re good with your mouse/trackpad, you might be able to fake it.

There’s more coming, too. Luke says he’s working on a version that will let you play along with your favorite songs – a sort of browser Theremin karaoke.

Now, of course, there are likely some serious Thereminists out there in our audience, but part of the magic of this is that it appeals to people well outside our music tech fields. I’m watching this spread through all my social feeds. Score — Productivity: 0. Whoopy sounds: 1.

There are actually some nice touches, too, including a pleasant, gritty distortion entitled “Scuzz,” waveform selections, and a nice built-in delay.

Not to be curmudgeonly (synthmudgeonly?) but that’s not even close to a theremin. It’s a great dub siren though and I like the Scuzz setting.

A good web theremin could be done though; track the mouse and use Y for volume and X for pitch.

chaircrusher

Not to be curmudgeonly (synthmudgeonly?) but that’s not even close to a theremin. It’s a great dub siren though and I like the Scuzz setting.

A good web theremin could be done though; track the mouse and use Y for volume and X for pitch.

Shovo Shake

Billy Winn

Billy Winn is a singer, songwriter,
recording artist, and entertainer taking his first steps onto the international
music scene, with an electrifying presence, and a powerhouse talent. In the
spring of 2012, he released “Future X Boyfriend,” a sexy Electro/Pop number
that garnered exposure and an online buzz for the burgeoning Pop performer.